A Game Changer.
Welp… things are about to get a whole lot more personal on How Sweet It Is. Hold on to your boots bacon.
Something happened today that I am pretty sure will change my life forever.
Today, I gave my resignation for that place where I spend my time from 8am until 5pm every single day. I still don’t believe it. I think it was a dream. And my head really, really hurts.
Although this was not planned, it has been a long time coming. Only once last year did I truly express my unhappiness and my true passion in life. And unless you got up close and personal with me, you really would have had no idea the situation I was in.
My health has suffered.  My positive attitude has suffered. My wellbeing has suffered. My relationships have suffered. My marriage has suffered. Last night, Mr. How Sweet told me that it’s called “work” for a reason.  I’m sorry, but I just can’t accept that.
All I really want is peace.
The biggest thing that has stopped me from doing this until now?  GUILT. Guilt for having a job when so many others out there are suffering and would do anything for one. Guilt for leaving my husband with the burden of “taking care of me” and being solely financially responsible for our lives if I can’t find another job. Guilt for wanting to pursue what I really want – because isn’t that just a fairytale? Guilt for getting to do what I want when so many others don’t get to. Why do I get to be so lucky? Or reckless? I guess it depends on how you look at it.
To me, being reckless would be to run far away and live on hope. Like here:
I didn’t quit my job to blog. I don’t want you thinking that I am just like every other blogger out there that is miserable in their job and then bucks up and heads out. I was miserable with my place of employment long before I began my blog. See, I can’t survive on my blog alone. And even more importantly – I don’t know if I want to. I love writing this website as a hobby and it has brought more joy and life into my life than anything else in the past 15 months. To be perfectly cliché: it has made me come alive.
(But this can get to be an expensive hobby. If I post ramen noodles will you still read? Please? What about ramen noodles with bacon?)
I’m pretty scared. Okay, I’m scared to death. I emotionally ate 36 oreos while watching 6 DVR-ed episodes of Boy Meets World hoping that Mr. Feeny would pass a few pearls of wisdom to me from the other side of the tube. All I got was the episode where he announces he is retiring to Wyoming, and says “there comes a time when change just feels right.”
Good enough for me.
147 Comments on “A Game Changer.”
amen. i’m proud of you :)
Oh Jessica,
Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and follow your heart or else you’ll be 58 and still in the same situation. So what if you have to eat ramen a few times a week…at least you won’t wake up dreading the day. As for me, I’ve been avoiding *that* situation since I knew right out of school that I wanted to do something I was passionate about.
However, I think it’s time for me to bite the bullet and get a lame job. No one wants to hire me to pursue my passion! Does that make any sense at all!? I am being a total hypocrite.
Allie, listen to your own advice! Hold out for that job you’re passionate about. :)
Jessica – it takes a lot of bravery to walk away from a bad job when you don’t have a net to fall into. Everything happens for a reason. :)
Allie – if you have the opportunity to do what you want, DO IT! I did the same after college – my parents were gracious enough to allow me to live at home while I started up with personal training (my passion at the time). I will never regret or forget that!
Absolutely brilliant. Full of heart. I’m so happy you’re moving to a place of peace in your life. If you hated every day, the whole 8-5 routine, what kind of life would that be?
“the days are long but the years are short.”
Do what you love.
I so understand not liking the ‘job’ but needing to have it. I am in a position now to do what I like and what I want. This is freedom. I do the grind and I do something that makes me feel good. I wish the same for everyone here.
Congrats on doing what you felt was right! Good luck!
wow girl.. i KNOW God has bigger things in store for you.. you are awesome jessica.. life is too short! YOU DESERVE THE BEST
Yay! Congratulations. I’ve only had good come from leaving situations/jobs/relationships that were not working. I naturally give the “good old college try” and my overwhelming hunch is that you are the same way, so this is nothing but a good thing. I’m so excited to witness your next chapter! xoxo
Honestly, I’d totally read a post about how you combined ramen noodles with bacon. I’m not joking. And I bet you’d take and post such amazing pictures that I’d totally forget that eating ramen noodles makes me break into hives (also not joking) and I’d rush out to buy the recipe ingredients to try it myself.
And then I’d bake some of your s’more brownies to distract me from the fact that I’d want to itch my arms off due to the hives.
That is all.
I think it’s time for a celebration! There’s no better reason to than standing up for your happiness!! Congratulations, this is just the first step into the next chapter of your life!
On a positive note, at least you are in a point in your life when you can reach for your dreams! Sometimes in life we have to do something for ourselves even if it makes no sense to anyone else. I admire your courage and obviously hope the best for you…always! Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride!
Good for you! I did the same thing about 5 weeks ago, but I didn’t want to write it all over Twitter earlier! Totally understand everything you wrote. I hated going to work, also hated telling people I was unhappy, my husband was tired of hearing it. So done and done. We can keep each other company during the day! There’s a world of opportunity out there for something that we will enjoy doing it at a place that appreciates us. And that’s what I’m looking for.
Kudos to you for recognizing that you were really unhappy and taking action. It takes a lot of guts to do that and you did!! Now on to whatever your next step is-good luck!!!
Congratulations on making a change in your life for the better! It may be scary now, but there will be one moment(and you’ll know it when it happens) when everything becomes clearly worth it.
Congrats to you! You will find what you want to do and it could be something you’ve been doing all along! In the meantime, just enjoy life until your real passion comes along!
Congrats! Everything happens for a reason…you are about to embark on a new journey! Have a glass of wine and some bacon.
i’m new to your blog, but ROCK ON!!!! that’s so fantastic. congrats!
You are so brave! Like Katie said, life is way too short and you definitely deserve the best!! :)
It may sound weird to say, but congratulations! Seriously, good for you. So many people don’t take control of their life and happiness out of fear or for other reasons and you are not letting yourself do that. And Mr. Feeny know what’s up!
Wow – what a huge step :) But I am sure you will be all the more happier for it :)
Yay! Congrats on moving on! I have to be honest though, I’m a little disappointed that you’re not quitting your job so you can blog as your job (though I TOTALLY understand why you wouldn’t necessarily want to). I’m relatively new around these parts, but I love your content. good luck!
Oh don’t worry – I will still be blogging! Probably even more than usual now. :)
I believe a congratulations is due – congrats on finding the strength to do this and for being true to your own happiness. Hang in there – good things are to come!
Congrats on the difficult life altering decision. It can be a tough one. I did it a few years ago when I completely switched career paths. It is a hard decision to make but it is definitely the right one in the end. Everything does shockingly fall into place. It may not be your exact dream but it will definitely work out. Good luck to you and thanks for letting us all in on your experience, i’m sure that wasn’t easy either. Relax, put your feet up, have a cocktail and continue watching Boy Meets World. It really is the best! :)
I can relate. While I liked the people at my job, it was affecting my marriage and my positive attitude. I, too felt guilty for quitting when so many people were struggling to find a job and worried if I shouldn’t be giving it up to go back to school and finish my degree.
But now that it’s been a few months and I’m in school, I KNOW it’s the best decision I’ve made.
I did the same thing this summer… and my husband has had the same reaction. Seriously, I was a teacher – a job that SO many people are after, and I just up and quit because it made ME miserable. My husband is still a little resentful, but he wants me to be happy. Isn’t is the BIGGEST weight of your shoulders just to know that you don’t have to go back? Relax, you’ll figure it out someway, somehow. Good luck :)
<3 you!
You're amazing and strong and know that you'll find something that you like to do rather than what you HAVE to do :)
Hang in there! I hope you don’t quit the blog! Who else can I talk about bacon with?
I will never quit the blog! :)
I’m so proud of you. It takes a strong person to make ANY type of change. Our lives are too short to spend them unhappily. Yes, work is WORK, but you should find pleasure in every day.
How is Mr. Sweet taking it?
I think it takes a lot of courage to make a big change like that. Life is too short to be unhappy in your job, especially since that is the place where you spend the majority of your time. Good luck with everything!
Good for you!! In my old job I came so close so many times to doing what you did today! I ended up moving positions right before I hit my breaking point, but I am still not working in an area I am passionate about and am plotting the day I resign (muahaha). So, way to have GUTS and follow the better bacon (and life), if that expression makes any sense to a fellow bacon-lover? ;)
Thank you for sharing this…the fact that all the answers aren’t there just makes you human. You will surely find your happiness :)
if this is what the good old gut told you then you have to do it. that’s how i see it.
Congrats Jess :D
I think YOU know what is best for you, and a job that caused health issues, and created problems in your relationship is NOT ok. You needed to get out. Something BIGGER & BETTER is coming along for you, I just know it!! :)
Anyone can call it selfish, but there is a job out there for you! I am currently unemployed and struggling SIGNIFICANTLY to find a job. It is a constant day-to-day battle and when you live in a town where you don’t know hardly anyone, it’s an even tougher market. If you have a college in your town, creep on their job fair! It’s definitely a foot back in the door!
Mr. Feeny is a great man, isn’t he?! I totally love that show. Hang in there girl. I’m happy for you, even if it means all I get to see if Ramen with Bacon from now on. :) Good luck!
Jessica, it seems this “season of change” came at the right time for you. I can relate to you SO much about the job situation. When I moved to good ‘ol Pittsburgh with two degrees and a teaching certification (TX) and then could NOT get a job, I felt SO guilty about leaving the responsibility to my husband to take care of me when I know I could be making good money and helping to save money for our future family. It’s been over a year since I’ve worked, and though I still feel guilty on occasion, this time has allowed me to pursue my interests and really think about what I want to do with my life. I hope this time is a time of peace and creativity for you and a great move towards your future happiness- in whatever you choose to do next! If you were unhappy in your last job, this is definitely a great move for you, so congrats on taking a stand and making changes!
If you ever need another fellow Pittsburgh “domestic diva” to hang with, I’m here! HUGS:)
So very, very proud of you, dear friend!! We are going to have A LOT to talk about on the car ride to Cleveland this weekend!!
Yes we are!
Congratulations on having the courage to take a HUGE step in your life! That is so fantastic.
So excited for you! I spent years in a job that made me unhappy and pretty much a miserable person. Doing what you love is so important.
Jessica, Congrats on following your heart and doing what you needed to do to be happy!
that is scary and exciting! good for you to listening to yourself, it sounds like this has been a long time coming and a really tough decision.
So happy for you! I feel the exact same way in my job, and I will live vicariously through you during this time…until the day comes when I can finally stick it to the man myself. :)
Good for you :) I hope it brings you much peace!
That is something i’ve wanted to do for a long long time.. Maybe you could send some of your strength my way so I get up the guts! I doubt it though.. I have no choice in working… I don’t want to live in my car with 2 kids and a hubby :)
I’m here in Cleveland I hope the weather holds out for you this weekend!
You’re a brave chica! Big changes like this can be reaaaaaally scary, but you know you have us (all your readers) here to support you.
I hear ya! I graduated from university this year into a field with NO jobs. Not here, not across the country, not in a different country – NO jobs. What hurts the most is that 3-4 months before I graduated there were thousands of jobs (I’m not kidding). Now, hiring freezes galore. Ugh!
So, like you, I’m jobless and having fun with my very expensive hobby for the time being until something comes along. I know what it feels like to have your hubby support you when it’s not really by choice and, to me, it’s not the best feeling. We’re suffering paycheck to paycheck and there’s nothing I can do about it.
Good luck to you. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but you’ll find something (we both will)! :)
I know what you mean. Working in a job that stifles you like that is horrible. I know you did the right thing! Congratulations! You will definitely find something perfect for you.
Your happiness is the most important thing in your life–after all, it is YOUR LIFE!!! I think you are 100% doing the right thing . . . even if you don’t know what it is that will make you happy, you deserve the chance to find out! I’m rooting for you, Jessica! :)
I admire your courage for taking a chance and doing something to make yourself happy! Best of luck on your future endeavors!
Congrats – can’t wait to see what you do next!
You have no idea how much this hits home for me. I feel the same way! I LOVE my blog and it has completely changed some things in my life over the past year and a half, but I’ve been unhappy in my job for about…4 years. And I’ve been looking for something else since then and still haven’t found anything. It’s tough when you’re stuck – and most of those years I was the one with benefits and insurance and HAD to keep it because we needed those things, so I had no option.
We’re finally getting to a point where I DO have a choice, so I’m still searching.
I’m so happy to hear that you’re doing what you needed to do to have some peace.
(((hugs)))
I’m always here if you need talk/vent/come up with new recipes with bacon ;)
Congrats on quitting! I understand how you have been feeling, guilt and all. My hubby and I have very different views on work too. I feel like work is personal and you should be happy with how you are spending those precious 40 hours of daylight. I am so happy for you and hope you can find something that brings you more enjoyment and happiness.
I made a similar choice when I stopped working as a trainer and group x instructor. My life has been better because of that choice. A toxic environment is a toxic environment and the majority of your life shouldn’t be spent suffering. Heck, the least amount of time possible of your life should involve suffering!
You could always try remaking some of the recipes on those frugal eats blogs…I think all of us budget-strapped recipe-loving readers would appreciate that ;)
Congrats! I wish I could quit, but can’t hopefully something will work out. I’m starting to volunteer in areas I want to work in, so maybe a non-profit could use you as a writer.